The Veronicas
Flo Rida & Kesha
T.I. & Justin Timberlake
Alesha Dixon
Nickelback
Mastodon
Paramore
My Chemical Romance
Laura Pausini & James Blunt
Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
Nek
Jenniffer Kae
Laura Izibor
MCR recorded this cover of Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row” for the 2009 movie Watchmen. The band narrowed the song down to a few verses and added heavier instrumentation that sharply contrasts Dylan’s rendition.
The original comic of the same name that the movie is based on features a couple of quotes...
[Verse 1]
They're selling postcards of the hanging
Well, they're painting the passports brown
Yeah, the beauty parlor's filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Oh, now look, here comes the blind commissioner
Well, they got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other's in his pants
[Chorus]
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As Lady and I look out tonight from
Desolation Row
[Verse 2]
Cinderella, she seems so easy
"Well, it takes one to know one," she smiles
And she puts her hands in her back pockets
Oh, Bette Davis style
And now here comes Romeo, moaning
"You belong to me, I believe"
And if someone says, "You're in the wrong place, my friend"
You better leave
[Chorus]
And then the only sound that's left
After the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on
Desolation Row
Yeah!
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
Now at midnight, all the agents
And superhuman crew
Go out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do (Knows more than they do)
They're going to bring them to the factory
Where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders
And then the kerosene
[Chorus]
Is brought down from the castles
By insurance men who go
Check to see that no one is escaping to
Desolation Row
[Outro]
'Cause right now, I can't read too good
Don't send me no letters, no
Not unless you're going to mail them from
Desolation Row
Ah!
Desolation Row was written by Bob Dylan.
Desolation Row was produced by My Chemical Romance.
My Chemical Romance released Desolation Row on Mon Jan 26 2009.